London and Paris to See Some Extraordinary Watches This November

Belles Montres and Salon QP are going to put Paris and London on the collector’s map. It’s perhaps the best time in Paris and London to see some excellent timepieces. Saatchi Gallery of London hosts Salon QP from November 8 to 10. It also marks the special dates for some of the magazines that organize this fair. Two weeks later, on November 23, Carrousel du Louvre is setting something similar for Belles Montres.

This year marks the sixth edition of Belles Montres and the fourth of QP, making both exhibition beginners to the ranks of time-world assembly, particularly compared with Swiss events like Geneva’s SIHH that launched in 1991 and Basel World that started in 1917. Despite being newcomers, the exhibition attracts sprinkling of big brands and small as exhibitors. Since their establishment, both companies have seen expansion in their clients from 300 numbers to approximately 16,000.

One reason behind the success of Belles Montres and Salon QP is clear that they take place in well-developed big cities having good number of watch enthusiasts. Baselworld and SIHH are two business oriented affairs where media assemble in huge number to gaze at new timepieces. Only industry experts are allowed to see the event held at Palexpo, Geneva where the ambience induces a lavish but staid trade environment, while Basel World too has massive stands and huge crowd.

At the smaller and friendly BM and QP, the atmosphere complements the fair well; both events offer debates, seminars, bookstores, and show videos of watches from the ancient world as well as the watch making demonstrations. Visitors would be allowed to talk with watchmakers and executives and most importantly, they would be allowed to handle the timepieces.

The founder of the fair and Publisher of GQ magazine, James Gurney, says their main aim is to communicate with the people directly. He said they can as well put about their watches in magazines or websites, but that would be secondhand incident for the readers. Hence, he has founded the fair where people get firsthand experience rather than seeing just a picture.

Nearly 45 brands will be representing at SalonQP fair, including Piaget, Zenith, Seiko, Bulgari, and TAG Heuer. The entry fee would start from £20 to £30, depending on the time you select, daytime or evening sessions.

The co-founder of BM, Alian Faust says Swiss fairs are for industry insiders and professionals, while their fair is dedicated to the public. More than 50 brands would be displaying their collections, including Ralph Lauren, Cartier, Chanel, Bell & Ross, and Mont Blanc, etc.